LOUBOUTINS SUCK | Your Under-$150 Spring Shoe Guide

via Bionda Castana

Originally posted in The LOOK

I picked up my first (and only) pair of Louboutins on a whim. I'd been invited to meet the celebrity shoe designer when he was in Toronto for a Christian Louboutin Exhibition at the Design Exchange. For a fashion blogger, this was a major coup. I rifled through my entire shoe collection at home, freaking out because none of my shoes felt worthy of my shoe idol. And then I remembered a $300 gift card I'd been saving. This was happening. 

I left an hour early for Toronto and headed straight for one of my favourite places in the world - the designer shoe department at Holt Renfrew. Surrounded by ladies who lunch and all those gorgeous shoes, I couldn't help myself. I landed on a pair of stunning black and gold spikey-toe pumps and asked to see them in size 9. 'Well, Louboutin only goes up to 39, which is more like an 8, but they will be fine.' They weren't. I knew it. But I figured I'd work them in. Shoes this expensive must mold to your feet, non? Minutes later I'd blown $800 and was walking onto Bloor St. feeling like a boss. 

Nobody wants to admit it. In fact, in certain circles, saying so would be sacrilege. But if you've ever owned a pair of Louboutins, I'm sure you'll agree - they're uncomfortable. No, wait, that's being nice. They're torture chambers. I've talked to dozens of other Louboutin victims who secretly agree.  They might look pretty and you might get some small satisfaction from prancing around the room in your red soles, but after about 6 minutes, the pain sets in. The searing, burning, want-to-rip-your-feet-off pain that makes you leave the party early and never want to wear heels again. And I'm the kind of person who lives in heels. Unless you have abnormally tiny toes, there just isn't enough room at the inn. So, not only does the sky-high pin-sized heel make you feel like you're a giant baby tottering around in your mom's heels, but your feet are simultaneously being suffocated which turns your feet as red as that iconic sole. And then there are the long-lasting effects. No matter how much they hurt, you continue to wear them anyway because of the mountains of guilt - after all, you dropped a whole mortgage payment on them. Okay, let me just come right out and say it - Louboutins suck. 

I love heels. I adore the Holts shoe department and am still willing to spend the occasional paycheque on the perfect designer shoe (Choo > Louboutin all the way). But clearly, I will never buy Louboutins again. And if you suffer shoe envy every time you see those painted red soles - believe me, you are not missing out. 

Now, I get most of my shoe kicks for under-$150 - a great pointy-toe flat at ALDO, a made-in-Brazil beauty at Le Château, or a pair of sporty white tennis kicks from Sportchek or Soft Moc let me stay on trend without destroying my feet or my spring shopping budget. 

Want to step up your shoe game this spring? Check out our guilt-free spring shoe guide, with the coolest little flats and prettiest printed heels for under $150, not a single red sole in sight. Phew. Happy Friday!

SEE OUR SPRING SHOE GUIDE HERE...

TOTAL JEANIOUS | 5 Ways to Reinvent Your Denim This Spring

via Harper's Bazaar

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

Toronto Fashion Week just wrapped up and, as always, the people-watching was amazing. Sequins were shining, fur was flying, girls showed off in power prints and boys represented in bright blazers. But this season, it seemed like the lower-key looks got all the attention. The Fashion Week paparazzi passed over girls in sky-high heels and went crazy for style bloggers in sneakers. The over-the-top gowns might look amazing on the runway but outside the tents, sweatshirts, jeans and ball caps looked right at home. Blame it on normcore or our collective obsession with street style but even the fashion pack wants to keep it real right now. 

One of my favourite trends for spring '15? Denim, of course. We all wear it, we all live in it, and even though it's been around for decades, it manages to look new every single season. From ripped white skinnies to dark seventies flares, there are so many fresh ways to wear denim right now. Whether you already own loads of pairs or are ready to update your collection, the stores are filled with plenty of covetable pairs you'll want to add to your closet this spring. Don't say I didn't warn you ;)

Looking for a little springspiration? Check out these 5 looks that bring together some of my favourite denim trends of the season...

SEE THE LOOKS HERE...

Joe Mimran Leaves Joe Fresh, Joins CBC's Dragons' Den

Photo via George Pimentel

When it was announced a few days ago that Joe Mimran was leaving Joe Fresh - his namesake, his fashion baby - the Canadian fashion community reeled. It seemed like an odd decision to leave a successful company at the top of its game, right in the midst of its global takeover. So what was it? Was there someone else? Was he tired of people thinking his last name was 'Fresh'? Was he simply over the colour orange? I couldn't imagine why he'd leave Joe Fresh unless tempted by an even better opportunity. Turns out I was right. 

Joe Mimran will be joining CBC's Dragons' Den as the hit show's newest judge. The 62 year-old fashion vet is a natural choice, having built some of Canada's most successful fashion brands including Alfred Sung, Caban, Club Monaco, and most recently, Joe Fresh.  Though Joe leaves his day-to-day duties behind, he will remain the founder and brand ambassador of Joe Fresh. 

Season 10 of Dragons' Den starts shooting next month and will air Wednesday nights at 8 pm on CBC. As an avid DD junkie, I cannot wait to see Mr. Mim in action. One thing I can guarantee? There will be loafers. Oh yes, there will be loafers.

Zoolander 2 is Happening

via Maison Valentino on Instagram

It's been 14 years since we first met the ridiculously good-looking Derek Zoolander and his model nemesis, Hansel. 14 years since Zoolander learned to turn left. While I've always hoped for a rematch, I never thought the duelling male supermodels would ever come to terms on a sequel. At the Valentino show at Paris Fashion Week this morning, the boys finally confirmed it, strutting it on the runway for a crowd of uncharacteristically giddy editors. Paramount further confirmed that the yet-to-be-named 'Zoolander 2' will be released February 12, 2016. So, so exciting! I. can't. even.

Seems fitting that Zoolander made its comeback on the Valentino runway. Have you ever seen Valentino Garavani? Seriously, have you ever seen a better Blue Steel? 

JUMP AROUND | 3 Ways to Wear a One-Piece

Lara Stone does city girl chic in her white overalls. via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

There's dressing for men and then there's dressing for ourselves. My husband's list of fashion 'likes' reads like a Victoria's Secret catalogue, and it goes a little something like this: 

• Things that lace up = good
• Things that tie up = good
• Tight workout pants = good
• Tops that "accidentally" fall off shoulders = good
• Cleavage = good 

Predictable, right? But he's not alone. I've met few straight men who would pick SJP over Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth over Gisele, Maggie Gyllenhaal over Megan Fox. Meanwhile, fashion girls collectively lose their minds when Emma Stone, Tilda Swinton or Cate Blanchett hit the red carpet because they dress for the love of clothes, not for the cleavage they can bust out. 

I'm perpetually torn between the two camps. I hold this sexpot superhero power over my bae when I throw on strappy heels, a little black dress and bombshell waves. Kachow! He has no idea why but suddenly he goes all zombie-like, holding doors open for me and offering to make me caipirinhas. Still, I love dressing up like Jenna Lyons with my buttoned-up men's shirt, culottes & New Balance kicks. Girls love it. Guys literally walk right past me. Except when I put on a pair of big geek glasses. Then it turns into a hot teacher/librarian thing. Guys like that. 

The one-piece jumpsuit is inherently divisive. While most women would love to try out overalls or a denim jumpsuit, they avoid them because they know how much men hate them. So, I've put together 3 one-piece looks for you to try out this spring anyway. Fitted black overalls worn with a tee or white blouse and heels is undeniably cute. An Emma Stone-like evening jumpsuit is unpredictably sexy. And as for the denim jumpsuit? Not sure about men (okay fine, pretty sure they'll hate it) but I can guarantee that fellow fashion girls will swoon. And here's the thing: sometimes a girl's just gotta look after #1. 

SEE THE LOOKS HERE: